RD&A Technologist I

Kerry Dairy Ireland is a vertically integrated farm-to-fork business with a very substantial retail presence and a leading nutritional and dairy ingredients division, delivering high-quality dairy solutions with a focus on sustainability and innovation. From partnering with local family farms to producing world-class dairy products, we ensure every step of our value chain reflects our commitment to excellence.

With over 50 years’ experience in milk processing, dairy and nutritional technology advancement, and product innovation, we are a key stakeholder in the global food industry and creators of a strong portfolio of market leading dairy brands including Cheestrings, Charleville and Coleraine Cheese, Dairygold, Golden Cow and our new SMUG range. Our from food, for food culture and deep-rooted connection to our 2,800 milk suppliers differentiates our business and offers captivating opportunities for our customers and consumers.

Our dairy comes from some of the world’s richest grazing land and is produced by a network of Irish family farms that have one of the lowest carbon footprints in the world. Through a combination of expertise, innovation, and sustainability, Kerry Dairy Ireland is proud to shape the future of dairy while meeting the diverse needs of our farmers, customers, and communities.

Headquartered in Tralee, Co. Kerry, we operate multiple manufacturing facilities in the southwest of Ireland, including Listowel, Charleville, Newmarket, and Farranfore. Additionally, we manage 29 Farm & Home stores throughout the region, ensuring comprehensive coverage and service. In Northern Ireland and the United Kingdom, our presence extends to key locations in Portadown, Coleraine, and Ossett.

Globally, Kerry Dairy Ireland employs over 1,600 dedicated professionals across Ireland, Northern Ireland, the UK, USA, Netherlands, Spain, Germany, and China. In 2024, we achieved a turnover of approximately €1.3 billion, reflecting our commitment to excellence and growth.

About the role

We are recruiting for an RDA Technologist to join our RD&A team in Portadown. You will work with the wider R&D team and operations team to drive the projects through the development process in a timely manner.

In this role you will assist to win in the market by providing a standardised approach to: New Product Introduction trials and launches; Process Improvements and Profit Improvement Projects (PIPs) that will be loved by our customers and deliver commercially for the business.

To achieve success, it is critical that the successful candidate works cross-functionally to ensure that all concepts / recipes developed are aligned with the business strategy.

This role will involve activities such as, building relationships with Marketing, Operations and Commercial and ensure Customer care and adherence to the Kerry Purpose, Vision and Values. A key focus for the role will also be to maintain awareness as to the potential upgrade of existing products giving consideration to operation efficiencies and PIP initiatives

Key responsibilities

• Interpretation of project briefs and planning and co-ordination of the gate zero meeting to gain site approval to progress the project.
• Creation of the feasibility study outlining how, how much, how long the projects will take, while ensuring the correct systems are used to manage the project
• Master schedules to be developed for each project and to be communicated and managed with the key stakeholders involved in the project.
• Responsible for product and packaging development and validation.
• Conducting trials on benchtop ensuring all documentation is retained, in the pilot plant through to scale up trial in the factory in conjunction with the site teams. These trials will be completed in accordance with the agreed site processes and systems.
• Documentation will include activities such as, full nutritional information and shelf life
• Costings to be completed in conjunction with procurement and site finance and communicated to brand or customer for approval once the process has been agreed with the site team.
• All trial records to be kept in folder and online for reference purposes ensuring trial success or failure to be cleared captured and recorded.
• All new concepts to be presented to site SLT and key stakeholders prior to panels ensuring accurate costings are delivered against current factory capabilities.
• Post launch reviews of the quality of existing products via Consistency Panels to be completed.
• Prepare product samples for customers
• Ensure that the NPD work areas are maintained and cleaned to the highest possible standards.
• Once project has been approved by brand / customer the commercialisation process will be followed in conjunction with the, site quality/technical team, brand or sales lead.
• Ensure the transfer of quality into the factory with the support of the site teams during trials and on-going post-launch until full handover.
• Support the brand/customer agendas via project delivery
• Working alongside the R&D Co-Ordinator / NPI team to prepare high quality presentation paperwork
• Maintaining awareness of market, consumer & restaurant trends, and competitor activity, applying this knowledge during the development phase as well as understanding the customer protocols and Kerry’s strategic plan
• Responsible for the handover of the Tech Doc to the Quality / Technical/ Regulatory / Packaging departments to assist them in completion of customer specifications and artwork approval for both product and packaging based on the information gathered throughout the development process.

Qualifications and skills

• Degree in Food Science (or related topic) or previous relevant experience in the Food /Manufacturing Industry
• Computer literate with a working knowledge of Microsoft Office
• Experience in SAP and Optiva systems an advantage
• Fluency in English
• Able to work accurately and quickly in a fast moving environment
• Able to work on your own initiative and pay attention to detail
• Good organizational skills and excellent communication skills
• Self-motivated with good interpersonal skills and the ability to work well within a team